Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

W. L. BRYAN.

THILL COUPLING.

No. 448,499. Patented Mar. 17,1891.

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' NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

-WILLIAM L. BRYAN, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

THILL-COUIPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,499, dated March17, 1891.

Application filed November 20, 1890. Serial No. 372.021. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. BRYAN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of San Antonio,in the county of BeXar and State of Texas,have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Thin-Couplings;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 isa top plan view of same, and Figs. 3, 4c, and 5 are detail views.

The invention relates to certain improvements in thill-couplings; and itconsists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all ashereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A represents the clip forsecuring the coupling to the axle. The upper portion of said clip isbifurcated, as shown, and between the arms a of said portion is pivotedthe contracted rear end of thearm or lever B. Said clip is also providedwith the forward extensions or arms b,having each near its forward endthe shoulder 0. At this point each of said arms is provided with acircular groove or recess 0, formed partly in the said shoulder andpartly in the body portion of the arm. The apertures or surfaces of thesaid grooves or recesses are of snfficient width to enable them toreceive the ends cl of the shaft-iron, for which they serve as seats.The ends of the shaft-irons being inserted in said grooves or seats, thelever-arm B is brought downwardly, the circular shoulders e of thebifurcated front portion of which engage, respectively, or bear againstthe upper surface of the ends of the shaft-iron, thus entirely inclosingthem in their seats and effecting a safe coupling. The lever-arm B islocked in this position by means of the spring-catches F, which engageand retain the bifurcated forward or free end of said arm.

G is a spring interposed between the arms B and b for the purpose ofnormally holding the arm B out of engagement with the shaftiron, andconsequently releasing said iron when the ends of said arm are releasedfrom the spring-catch.

It will be seen that if occasion requires by the use of the couplingabove described the shafts may be readily and quickly freed from thevehicle.

Anti-rattling devices H are seats or recesses, as shown.

Having described the invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The thill-coupling comprising the clip having the forward extensionsor arms provided with the shoulders and the circular recesses forreceiving the ends of the shaft'iron, and the bifurcated upper portionhaving pivoted therein the bifurcated lever-arm provided with thecircular shoulders adapted to engage the ends of the shaft-iron, thecatch for locking said lever-arm in such engagement, and the springinterposed between said parts for retracting said arm when released,substantially as described.

2. In a thin-coupling, the combinatiomwith the arms 0, having each nearits forward end a shoulder c, and a circular groove or recess 0,partially out under said shoulder, of the pivoted bifurcated arm 13,having the shoulders and the arc-shaped recesses, the springcatch forholding said parts in locked position, and the spring for retractingsaid arm B when the catch is released, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

provided in the I IVM. L. BRYAN. Witnesses:

J. J. MAHoNnY, H. J SAUNDERS.

